Adjustable height ironing table



Nov. 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1952 INVENTOR. MARTIN .1. KUTZ BYM/MJ ATTORNEYS Nov. 9, 1954 M. J. KUTZ ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT IRONING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11. 1952 INVENTOR. MARTIN J. KUTZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT IRONING TABLE Martin J. Kutz, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to 'lhe lll/ilartin Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation 0 0 io 7 Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 309,049

4 Claims. (Cl. 38-121) This invention relates generally to ironing boards or tables, but has reference more particularly to an ironing board or table which is adjustable in height.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an ironing table or board of the character described which can be easily and quickly adjusted to various heights, so as to accommodate it to use by persons of different heights, or to render it usable by a person who is seated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ironing table or board of the character described, which can be easily and quickly folded to a closed compact condition, facilitating storage thereof in a relatively small space.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ironing table or board of the character described having incorporated therein a novel mechanism for latching or locking the table top in adjusted position, and which mechanism is extremely simple in construction, and easy to install or assemble with the table.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the ironing table;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table, with portions of the top broken away to better illustrate certain features of construction;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference character 1 designates generally a framework comprising a pair of longitudinally-extended frame members 2 and 3 respectively. These frame members 2 and 3 are parallel with each other for the greater part of their length, are bent as at 4 to provide inwardly-tapering portions 5 and 6 respectively, and are bent as at 7 to provide arcuate portions 8 and 9 respectively, which are joined, as at 10, by welding. The frame members 2 and 3 are also bent as at 11 to provide straight portions 12 and 13 respectively, which are joined, as at 14, by means of an angle plate 15, which is spot welded to the inner faces of the portions 12 and 13, and extends across the joint 14. The frame members 2 and 3 are preferably formed from metal strip of channel or U-shape cross-section, the web 16 of the strip being disposed in a vertical plane, and the flanges 17 and 18 of the strip being disposed in horizontal planes.

The frame members are provided with inwardly extending embossments 16a which extend along the webs 16 across the bends 4, and which serve to provide reinforcement against downward bending of the portions 5, 6, 8 and 9 relatively to the portions 2 and 3 of the frame members.

Secured to the lower faces of the flanges 17 of the frame members 2 and 3, as by spot welding, is a perforate metallic top 19, preferably formed from expanded metal having substantially diamond-shaped apertures, with the long dimension of the diamonds preferably extending lengthwise of the top 19.

The top 19 is also supported at various points intermediate its ends by transverse supporting frame members 20, 21. 22, 23 and 24. These frame members extend substantially to the webs 16 of the frame members 2 and 3. The members 20 and 24 are in the form of inverted channels, relatively shallow in depth, with the webs of these channels spot welded to the lower faces of the Patented Nov. 9, 1954 flanges 17 of the frame members 2 and 3. The frame members 21, 22 and 23 are generally U-shaped in crosssection, with the web portions 25 thereof spot welded to the upper faces of the flanges 18 of the frame members 2 and 3, and are provided with horizontal flanges 26 and 27 which are spot welded to the lower faces of the flanges 17 of the frame members 2 and 3.

In order to maintain the top 19 substantially flat throughout, the top is spot welded at suitably spaced points to the webs of the channels 20 and 24 and to the flanges 26 and 27 of the frame members 21, 22 and 23.

An additional transverse frame member 28 is provided between the members 23 and 24, the member 28 being in the form of a channel of relatively shallow depth, the web of which is spot welded to the upper faces of the flanges 18 of the frame members 2 and 3.

Secured, as by welding, to the lower face of the web of the frame member 20 is a pair of transversely spaced brackets 29 and 30, provided with downwardly extending ears 31 and 32 respectively. These ears provide hearings in which a shaft 33 is journalled. Secured to the ends of this shaft is a supporting leg unit comprising legs 34 and 35 which are retained against displacement from the shaft by 'means of nuts 36.

The legs 34 and 35 are formed from tubular stock, and are bent as at 37 to provide inwardly tapering portions 38 and 39 respectively, are bent as at 40 to provide straight portions 41 and 42 respectively, which are parallel with each other, and are bent as at 43 to provide outwardly tapering portions 44 and 440 respectively, to the lower ends of which rubber crutch tips 44b or the like are secured.

Secured, as by welding, to the web portions 25 of the frame members 22 and 23, isa U-shaped member 45 which extends longitudinally of the ironing table. This member 45 serves as a spacer to maintain, in spaced relation to the table top, a guide member 46. The guide member 46 is of inverted U-shaped form, having a web 47 which is welded to the web of the member- 45, laterallyspaced downwardly-extending sides 48 and 49, and flanges 50 and 51 extending parallel to the web 47.

The sides 48 and 49 of the guide member are provided with longitudinal openings 52, in which a shaft 53 is guided for movement, these openings 52 having unobstructing upper and lower guide edges or surfaces. The web 47 of the guide member has stamped therefrom a series of longitudinally-spaced detents or lugs 54, which extend downwardly and are curved to receive and form stops for the shaft 53.

The shaft 53 has pivotally connected to its ends a second supporting leg unit comprising legs 55 and 56 which are retained against displacement from the shaft 53 by means of nuts 57.

The legs 55 and 56 are formed from tubular stock, and are bent as at 58 to provide outwardly tapering portions 59 and 60 respectively, and are bent as at 61 to provide straight portions 62 and 63 respectively, which are parallel with each other, and to the lower ends of which rubber crutch tips 65 or the like are secured.

A U-shaped strap is also provided, consisting of a bottom portion 66, upstanding arms 67 and 68, horizontal portions 69 and 70, which extend outwardly from the upper ends of the arms 67 and 68 respectively, and downwardly extending flanges 71 and 72 which extend from the outer ends of the portions 69 and 70 respectively. The shaft 53 extends through the arms 67 and 68 and through the flanges 71 and 72 of the strap. The arms 67 and 68 of the strap function to resist spreading apart of the sides 48 and 49 of the guide member, while the arms 67 and 68, portions 69 and 70, and flanges 71 and 72 function to maintain the upper ends of the legs 55 and 56 in properly spaced relation to the sides 48 and 49 of the guide member 46. r

The leg units are pivoted to each other, as by means of a pivot pin 73 which extends through the units at a point intermediate their lengths. The legs 34 and 35 of one leg unit being maintained in spaced relation by means of a sleeve 74 mounted on the pin 73, and the legs 55 and S6 of the other leg unit being maintained in spaced relation to the legs 34 and 35 by means of washers 75 mounted on the pin 73. Nuts 76 secured to the ends of the pin 73 maintain the legs 55 and 56 against displacement from the pin.

The lower ends of the legs 34 and 35 are maintained in spaced relation by means of a spacer sleeve 77, which is mounted on a pin 78 extending through these legs, the legs being maintained against displacement from this pin by means of nuts 79 secured to the ends of the pin. The lower ends of the legs 55 and 56 are maintained in spaced relation by means of a spacer sleeve 80, which is mounted on a pin 81 extending through these legs, the legs being maintained against displacement from this pin by means of nuts 82 secured to the ends of the pin.

The guide member 46 guides the guided member or shaft 53 in the movement of the leg units from open to closed position, and vice versa. The shaft 53 may be stopped at a plurality of positions intermediate the open and closed position of the leg units, in order to adjust or vary the height of the ironing table, the number of such positions corresponding to the number of detents or legs 54 For this purpose, the narrow end of the table is lifted, while the foot of the operator bears down on the spacer sleeve 77 to hold the leg units steady, thereby disengaging the detent or lug 54 from the shaft 53. The top is then I raised or lowered to the desired elevation, the leg units moving relatively to each other about their pivotal connection during such raising of lowering, and when the desired elevation has been attained, the narrow end of the table top is lowered to cause the shaft 53 to enter the detent or lug 54 which is most closely adjacent to the shaft, thereby locking the table in its adjusted position, since the shaft 53 cannot pass beyond the detent or lug 54 which it has entered.

In Fig. 1, two positions of adjustment in height of the 1 table top are shown, one in solid lines and one in broken lines. In order to permit the leg units to be moved to a closed position in which they lie parallel with and closely adjacent the lower surface of the table top, the distance between the axis of the shaft 33 and the extreme left end of the openings 52 (as viewed in Fig. 1) is at least as great as the sum of the distance between the axes of the shaft 33 and pin 73 and the distance between the axes of pin 73 and shaft 53.

Moreover, the leg unit comprising the legs 34 and 35 is nestable Within the leg unit comprising the legs 55 and 56, so that when the leg units are folded to a closed position, they lie in substantially a single plane, parallel with and closely adjacent the table top.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an ironing table of the character described, a top, a leg unit pivotally connected to said top, a second leg unit pivotally connected to said first leg unit at a point between the ends of said first leg unit, and means for locking said second leg unit in a plurality of positions angularly to said top, whereby the height of the table can be adjusted, said means comprising a guide member of inverted U-shaped cross-section having the web thereof rigidly secured to said top, the web of said member having spaced detents stamped therefrom and extending downwardly therefrom, and the sides of said guide member extending downwardly and having longitudinally-extending openings having unobstructing upper and lower edges, and the second leg unit having a transverse shaft guidable along said openings and receivable in said detents.

2. An ironing table, as defined in claim 1, in which said second leg unit comprises a pair of spaced legs secured to the ends of said shaft, and a strap member is provided which is pivotally secured to said shaft, said strap member having inverted U-shaped portions which space the legs of said second leg unit from the sides of said guide member and also serve to prevent said sides from spreading in an outboard direction.

3. In an ironing table of the character described, a top, a leg unit pivotally connected to said top, a second leg unit pivotally connected to said first leg unit at a point between the ends of said first leg unit, and means for locking said second leg unit in a plurality of positions angularly to said top whereby the height of the table can be adjusted, said means comprising a guide member rigidly secured to said top, said guide member having sides and a horizontal web portion having a multiplicity of spaced detents stamped and extending downwardly therefrom, said second leg unit having a guided shaft receivable in said detents, the detents being curved to conform to the curvature of the outer surface of said shaft, said second leg unit comprising a pair of spaced legs secured to the ends of said shaft, a strap member pivotally secured to said shaft, said strap member having portions which space the legs of said second leg unit from said guide member and also function to prevent the sides of said guide member from spreading in an outboard direction, said guide member being also provided with transversely spaced longitudinally extending openings through which said shaft extends, said openings having unobstructing upper and lower edges.

4. An ironing table, as defined in claim 3, including a U-shaped member rigidly secured to the bottom of said top, said guide member being of inverted U-shaped crosssection, with the web thereof welded to the web of said U-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 190,140 Hotchki'ss et al May 1, 1877 769,313 Higgs Sept.- 6, 1904 1,121,744 McLaughlin Dec. 22, 1914 1,359,527 Reed t Nov. 23, 1920 2,016,195 Gregory Oct. 1, 1935 2,320,607 John June 1, 1943 2,526,666 Johnson Oct. 24, l950 2,662,319 Hortman Dec. 15, 1953 

